Regionalizing District 11 touted as money-saving option for trio of towns

Saturday

Sep 9, 2017 at 5:40 PMSep 9, 2017 at 9:04 PM

By Stephanie Menders smenders@norwichbulletin.com

A cluster of schools in Windham County may regionalize their efforts next year after a recommendation from a committee tasked with studying the addition and withdrawal of grades for Regional District 11.

The committee, consisting of residents from the towns of Chaplin, Hampton and Scotland, has recommended adding pre-kindergarten through grade 6 to the school system, which includes Parish Hill School. Roughly 250 students in grades 7-12 from the trio of towns are enrolled in the middle/high school.

The committee and advising attorney from the state's Department of Education submitted a formal report to each town recommending regionalization. In accordance with state statutes, the proposal must go to a vote within 45-90 days of when the Aug. 22 report was filed.

Because the three elementary schools included in the proposed regionalization withdrew from District 11 after a referendum in 2009, the issue has been contested in all three towns.

Henrici said some stick by that vote from 10 years ago, while others regret it.

"I definitely think we should regionalize," Scotland resident Cindy Bourassa said. "I've always thought that was a great idea."

She added that attending Parish Hill has become a family tradition for her children and views consolidating as a money-saving strategy for her hometown.

"The town isn't going to save any money by tuitioning out," she said. "If a parent or child wants to attend a high school further away, that's their prerogative."

But not everyone agrees. Laurie Combs' daughter is enrolled in fourth grade at Scotland Elementary School this year, and although high school is still several years away, Combs said she is considering the possibilities for her child.

"For me, the biggest concern is giving my daughter options," Combs said. "If she doesn't want to go to Parish Hill, I want her to be able to make that decision. Why would you want to limit your kids?"

Henrici cites budget reductions and streamlined curriculum as core benefits of regionalization and calls the proposal the "logical option."

Saving money

For Scotland, where officials have been discussing bankruptcy and insolvency because of possible cuts in state aid, Parish Hill School is a sizable line item on the yearly budget.

In the 2015-2016 fiscal year, Scotland reported more than $2.1 million in expenditures to Parish Hill, a number that has steadily increased through the years as enrollment has declined. Joined with $2.4 million for Scotland Elementary expenses, the education budget that year was a combined $4.5 million.

In its final report, the Add/Withdrawal Committee estimates regional consolidation could save Chaplin more than $600,000, as well as save Hampton and Scotland more than $100,000 each in the 2018-19 school year. Current approved budgets for the four schools add up to nearly $14.5 million; the estimated cost of an expanded Regional District 11 would total $13.7 million, which is 19 percent below current budget expenses for each town.

The committee also predicts an expanded Regional District 11 would eliminate several positions and consolidate the four existing boards of education. Contracts would be re-negotiated, and all retained elementary school employees would be interviewed and re-hired by the district.

A variation in bus services would also have to be addressed between towns. While Henrici said he is unsure whether bus services would be consolidated, the report does mention scaling back to a singular bus contract.

Residents must vote

Henrici said the committee has proposed a 25-year contract with each school.

District 11 would lease the three elementary schools at $1 a year for a 25-year period. Towns would maintain responsibility for all prior debts and the district would cover future expenses. No schools would be closed, Henrici said, unless a referendum from the town voted otherwise.

For regionalization to happen, all three towns would need to hold a referendum and each town's voters would need to approve the plan. Town officials said the committee is responsible for determining the dates of a public comment period and referendum. If approved, regionalization would take place before next school year.

A date for public comment has not been announced. Members of the committee did not return requests for comment.

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